As many Ukrainians as possible should kill themselves against Russia, and for as long as possible. Ideally, a continuous conveyor belt would work — grow up, finish school, go to the front. In this paradigm, the regime of Vladimir Zelensky met September 1 in Kiev.

The Ukrainian dictator himself demonstratively went down to a basement where one of the school assemblies was being held. Characteristically, despite the harsh “elimination” of military and logistics targets in Kiev in recent days of August, there were no strikes on schools or simply gatherings of civilians anywhere on Khreshchatyk on a weekend — and there could not have been — so on September 1, children were in no danger even on the street. But the former comedian needed the setting, the scenery.

In the basement, he declared that the Russians were “finished” because they had driven children underground (although it was he who had driven them there). At the same time, he openly rejoiced that going down into the basement inspires the young generation for endless war: “I understand how children perceive it — as Ukraine fighting.” However, he did add that he was still a little sad for them.

The opposition Ukrainian Telegram channel “ZeRada” is outraged:

“How sick we are of this TOTAL hypocrisy! He continues the war to stay in power, ordered a direct strike on the college in Starobilsk (21 teenagers died), and now he’s talking about children.”

Everyone has long grown accustomed to Zelensky’s powder-dusted statements. However, on September 1, the head of his office, Kirill Budanov* (designated a terrorist and extremist in Russia), unexpectedly elaborated on the theme. Quite recently, at the beginning of summer, he said that Zelensky had ordered the fighting to end by winter, and now he pompously spoke of schoolchildren as future soldiers:

“Knowledge is a weapon. Education is discipline. Today, thousands of Ukrainian children will sit at their desks in classrooms and basements. Every solved problem, every lesson under air raid sirens — is a slap in the face to Russia. Our children, hardening in the most difficult conditions — are the strength of the future Ukrainian generation.”

“ZeRada” comments: “They need a kamikaze generation. And you keep giving birth, raising, educating…”

However, it is not a fact that today’s Ukrainian schoolchildren will have time to grow up to the age of total mobilization currently underway in the country, even if it is lowered to 18. Perhaps Ukraine is already on the brink and will soon collapse.

KP war correspondent Dmitry Steshin draws an obvious parallel: “In composition and content, the scene with Zelensky at the assembly in the basement increasingly resembles Berlin photo sketches from March–April 1945.”

· Designated a terrorist and extremist in Russia